System for the real-time detection of targets for radiation therapy

• US 7,418,079 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Wojcik, Timothy J., Chen, Shoupu, Schildkraut, Jay S., Bedzyk, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US11/419,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/15, 378/17, 378/19, 378/20, 378/146, 378/193, 378195-198, 378 62- 65, 378/208
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1069 Target adjustment, e.g. moving the patient support

Abstract

A method and apparatus for delivering therapeutic radiation (112) to a radiotherapy target (119) in a patient (114) includes a diagnostic X-ray source (124, 125) connected to a treatment couch (116), facing a first side of the patient. An imaging device (118) is connected to the treatment couch facing a second side of the patient. The diagnostic X-ray source and the imaging device move in lockstep with movement of the treatment couch. The patient is in a fixed position relative to the treatment couch.

Claims

1. A method of delivering therapeutic radiation to a radiotherapy target in a patient positioned on a treatment couch comprising the steps of:

connecting a first diagnostic X-ray source to said treatment couch wherein said diagnostic X-ray source faces a first side of said patient;

connecting a first imaging device to said treatment couch wherein said imaging device faces a second side of said patient;

wherein said first diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device maintain a desired view of the radiotherapy target with movement of said treatment couch while said first diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device are connected to said treatment couch during said movement; and

wherein said patient is in a fixed position relative to said treatment couch.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said radiotherapy target is within a field of view of a diagnostic imaging unit comprised of said first diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said radiotherapy target remains within the field of view of said diagnostic imaging unit for two or more positions of movement of said first diagnostic X-ray source.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said first diagnostic X-ray source movement is along an arc.

5. A method as in claim 2 wherein said radiotherapy target remains within the field of view of said first diagnostic imaging unit for more than one position of said treatment couch.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said diagnostic X-ray source is connected to said treatment couch by means of a frame.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said diagnostic X-ray source is movable with respect to said frame.

8. A method as in claim 7 comprising the additional step of:

moving said diagnostic X-ray source to a desired position relative to said patient for which said radiotherapy target is detectable in a captured radiographic image.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein a desired position of said diagnostic X-ray source is determined based on a three-dimensional image of said patient.

10. A method as in claim 7 in which said imaging device has means to adjust position and angle with respect to said first diagnostic X-ray source.

11. A method as in claim 6 in which said frame is removable from said treatment couch.

12. A method as in claim 6 wherein locator means positions said frame in a fixed location relative to said treatment couch.

13. A method as in claim 1 in which said imaging device has a curved surface.

14. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

connecting a second diagnostic X-ray source to said treatment couch.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said second diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device move in lockstep with movement of said treatment couch.

16. A method as in claim 14 wherein said second diagnostic X-ray source and a second imaging device move in lockstep with movement of said treatment couch.

17. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of determining said desired view of said diagnostic X-ray source based on a predetermined three-dimensional image of said patient.

18. A method of delivering therapeutic radiation to a radiotherapy target in a patient positioned on a treatment couch comprising the steps of:

connecting a diagnostic X-ray source to said treatment couch wherein said diagnostic X-ray source faces a first side of said patient;

connecting an imaging device to said treatment couch wherein said imaging device faces a second side of said patient;

adjusting a position of said diagnostic X-ray source relative to said patient to obtain a desired view of said radiotherapy target;

moving said diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device to maintain the desired view of the radiotherapy target with movement of said treatment couch while said first diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device are connected to said treatment couch during said movement; and

wherein said patient is in a fixed position relative to said treatment couch.

19. An apparatus for delivering therapeutic radiation to a radiotherapy target to a patient positioned on a treatment couch comprising:

a diagnostic X-ray source connected to said treatment couch all on a first side of said patient;

an imaging device connected to said treatment couch on a second side of said patient;

wherein said diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device maintain a desired view of the radiotherapy target with movement of said treatment couch while said first diagnostic X-ray source and said imaging device are connected to said treatment couch during said movement; and

wherein said patient is in a fixed position relative to said treatment couch.